Study: Recalled Toys Often Sold on eBay

Toys and other children's products recalled because of safety concerns are often resold through online auction sites, putting children at risk, according to a recent study.

EBay Inc. (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people )'s Web site prohibits the sale of recalled products, but enforcement efforts don't seem to be succeeding, said Keri Brown Kirschman, the study's lead author and an assistant psychology professor at the University of Dayton.

Kirschman, who specializes in child psychology and pediatric injury prevention, said she searched for 141 recalled items on eBay for 30 consecutive days and found them offered in at least 144 online auctions. The products included play yards, baby walkers, bassinets and safety devices.

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Williams-Sonoma's Pottery Barn Outlets Ban eBay Sellers

Williams-Sonoma's Pottery Barn Outlet stores have banned eBay sellers from acquiring inventory at their stores for resale. It appears the policy is not new, but enforcement has been stepped up - possibly due in part to disruptive behavior on the part of eBay resellers.

When contacted about the policy, Pottery Barn Brands Director of Public Relations Leigh Oshirak said, "We have a policy in the outlet stores that states: "We do not sell to wholesalers or other customers intending to resell merchandise they have purchased from our store." There is signage to this effect in all of our outlet stores."

An eBay seller who said she was barred from making any purchases at an outlet store, even for her own personal consumption, told AuctionBytes that staff at the Pottery Barn Outlet store near her home in California know the eBayers because they are regulars. And, she said, "The known ebayers are marked, because they are so rude."

source article from AuctionBytes.com

Online Resales Worry Retailers

Triss Budoff of Houston spent about $1,000 on 25 Rafe handbags that were available for a limited time at Target. But Budoff didn't use the purses. Instead, she posted 10 of them on eBay and earned about $750 in profit.

"I viewed it as a low-risk investment," Budoff says. "Anything I didn't sell I could return to the store within 90 days and get my money back."

More than a million people like Budoff make a portion of their income from selling products on eBay . And that has some retailers worried. To protect their businesses and their brands, they are taking steps to curtail customers who are buying products for resale.

Retailers are especially concerned about reselling of clothing and accessories, a category that has grown 73% on auction website eBay the past two years.

complete article from USA Today